Do you think bird droppings can be left until the next car wash? Oh no

Bird droppings on a car are a common occurrence, especially if it's parked under trees. Most often, such a stain is not perceived as something urgent. If it doesn't bother you, you can drive to a car wash or rinse it off when convenient. However, as experts from the German automobile club ADAC warn, even a small bird dropping stain can seriously damage the paintwork.

The problem is that birds are not very picky eaters: they consume worms, caterpillars, small animals, seeds, berries, and sometimes even human food scraps. All of this is digested with the help of quite aggressive stomach acid. As a result, substances remain in the droppings that are harmful to modern automotive paints: uric acid and other acids, caustic protein decomposition products, as well as mineral impurities, such as sand grains.

Yes, a study published in the Journal of Coatings Technology and Research showed that digestive enzymes contained in bird droppings are capable of causing chemical degradation of the clear protective layer of car paint.

It is especially dangerous to leave such contamination on the car in hot weather. At high temperatures, ADAC notes, sometimes 10 to 20 minutes are enough for the droppings to start damaging the upper clear coat layer. After removing the stain, white rings may remain in that spot.

If bird droppings remain on the car body for too long, they can damage deeper layers of the coating. They become brittle and start cracking, and the clear coat layer can even separate from the paint layer. Then moisture and acids get the opportunity to penetrate even deeper, and merely removing the stain or polishing may not be enough. In such a case, you will have to contact a specialist, and the damaged area might even need to be repainted.

Wax or ceramic coatings do not guarantee long-term protection either. Bird droppings start affecting them quite quickly, and over time can destroy the protective layer. Therefore, ADAC advises regularly inspecting the car for bird droppings.

How to properly remove bird droppings

With fresh droppings, everything is relatively simple. It's best to rinse it off with plenty of water. However, do not immediately rub the stain with a cloth or napkin. There might be sand grains and other hard particles in the droppings that could scratch the paint when rubbed.

If the droppings have already dried, they first need to be softened. ADAC advises placing a wet cloth, rag, or soft sponge on the stain and leaving it for at least 15 minutes. You can also use an old newspaper: fold it in several layers, place it on the soiled spot, and thoroughly wet it with warm water. Paper adheres even to vertical surfaces, and for fresh droppings, 5-10 minutes is usually enough. Wet wipes with mild cleaning components are also suitable for soaking.

If the droppings are heavily dried, you can use a special insect residue remover, car shampoo, or a mild dishwashing liquid. However, glass cleaner is not recommended: it can make the paint matte. Once the contamination is well soaked, it should be rinsed off as thoroughly as possible with water, and the remnants carefully blotted with a damp microfiber cloth.

On the road, an ordinary plastic bottle with water can save the day. If you make a small hole in the cap, you'll get a stronger stream, which is more convenient for rinsing off droppings.

Even easier is to assemble a small kit beforehand and keep it in the trunk. Experts recommend having a bottle or spray bottle with water and a small amount of liquid soap, as well as several soft microfiber cloths.

The main thing experts warn against is not to use stiff brushes and kitchen sponges and not to try to scrape off dried droppings. The principle is simple: first soften, then rinse with water, and only then gently blot the remnants with a soft cloth.

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